World Music Features

Baaba MaalBaaba Maal has begun work on his as-yet-untitled new album, a collaboration with conscious Philadelphia hip-hop band the Roots hopefully due later this year. Their vision, strongly Afrocentric and spiritual yet decidedly funky, meshes well with Maal’s own.By Chris Nickson

Mexican Institute of SoundBy day, Camilo Lara is music director and A&ampR man for EMI in Mexico. Instituto Mexicano del Sonido (the Mexican Institute of Sound) came together as Lara, who also goes by DJ Pata Pata, began doing remixes on the side “as a form of therapy,” in his words.By Ernest Barteldes

Burning SpearCalling himself “a messenger of His Majesty,” Burning Spear has never deviated from his mission of preaching positive messages, teaching about oppression, and spreading Rastafarianism. Internationally known, he won a Grammy in 1999.By Judson Kilpatrick

Emeline Michel
Emeline Michel has become Haiti’s signature female artist and a mainstay of the Francophone music world, billed as Haiti’s everything under the sun. She is a remarkable talent who takes charge of her own composition, production and dance. She’s an activist humanitarianism she even makes her own costumes.&nbspBy Carol Amoruso

Tom ZéZé creates sonic plastination, replicating recognizable snippets of Brazilian and Western pop melodies, dissecting them like a mad scientist with utmost precision, a true Mary Shelley of surround senses. Then again, everything Zé does is in a weird way.By Derek Beres

Fantan Mojah
The current roots rock renaissance has produced an abundant crop of talented newcomers and one of the most impressive is deejay (i.e., rapper) Fantan Mojah. Mojah struggled for several years prior to scoring two remarkable number one singles. By Patricia Meschino